Avatar Action: Sugarland, the Michel Legrand Orchestra, State Farm Was There

Avatar Studios session action recently was fast and furious, as reported by the studio. Superstars returned, and multiple major label and indie artists tracked along with TV, film and Broadway cast recordings.

Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush AKA Sugarland recorded in Studio C on the Neve VRP 72-input console with producer Byron Gallamore. Engineer Tom Tapley was assisted by Bob Mallory.

Tony Bennett returned to Studio A and the Neve 8088, with Lady Gaga and producer Phil Ramone. Engineer Dae Bennett was assisted by Fernando Lodeiro and Tim Marchiafava.

State Farm made a choral recording in Studio A for a 9/11 Spike Lee-directed commercial with producer Eric David Johnson. Engineer Jonathan Duckett was assisted by Charlie Kramsky.

Joe Jackson recorded in Studio C. Engineer Elliot Scheiner was assisted by Aki Nishimura.

Bassist/singer Esperanza Spalding recorded in Studio G with engineers Fernando Lodeiro and Brian Montgomery assisted by Tim Marchiafava.  The sessions are being produced by Esperanza Spalding and Q-Tip.

Studio B and the SSL 9000 J were on duty for Dar Williams, recording with producer/engineer Kevin Killen assisted by Fernando Lodeiro.

Horn specialist Mark Rivera recorded in Studio B with producer Jimmy Bralower, and engineer Roy Hendrickson assisted by Charlie Kramsky.

Rock singer/songwriter Danielia Cotton recorded in Studio A with engineer Dave Swanson assisted by Bob Mallory.

Producer John Oddo was on point for Broadway singer/actress Christine Ebersole, recording in Studio B with engineer Roy Hendrickson assisted by Tim Marchiafava.

Legendary jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette recorded in Studio A with producer Bob Sadin, engineer Dave Darlington assisted by Bob Mallory.

Continuing on the jazzzzzzzz tip, artists Claire Martin and Kenny Barron recorded in Studio B with producer Philip Hobbs, engineer Calum Malcolm assisted by Charlie Kramsky.

Also in Studio A, the 52-piece Michel Legrand Orchestra tracked with producer Sylvain Taillet. Engineer Lawrence Manchester was assisted by Bob Mallory and Tim Marchiafava.

Another ensemble, the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra was in Studio A with producer Howard Cass, while engineer Paul Zinman was assisted by Tim Marchiafava.

The Birdland Big Band dug into their first studio album in Studio C. The team of producer Tommy Igoe, engineer Phil Magnotti, and assistant engineer Aki Nishimura oversaw the recording.

On the music-for-media front, score for the film Friends with Kids was recorded in Studio C with producer/composer Marcelo Zarvos, engineer Erlin Velberg assisted by Fernando Lodeiro.  The film stars Kristen Wiig, Megan Fox and Jon Hamm.

The cast album for Stage Door Canteen was recorded in Studio A with producer Hugh Fordin, and engineer Cynthia Daniels was assisted by Aki Nishimura. Meanwhile, a benefit project for Broadway Cares was recorded in Studio B with producer Lynn Pinto, engineer Andros Rodriguez assisted by Tim Marchiafava.

In Studio A, the cast album for Death Takes a Holiday tracked with producer Tommy Krasker. Engineer Bart Migal assisted by Bob Mallory and Charlie Kramsky.

Sessions at Avatar Studios with Jean Morrison, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Aretha, Kenny Garrett

July was a hot month in Hell’s Kitchen, as Avatar Studios hosted sessions for some of the biggest names in the biz. Let’s fire it up!

In Studio A, the Neve 8088 captured the sweet sounds of Tony Bennett (happy 85th birthday this month!) recording a duet with Lady Gaga in Studio A for his upcoming Duets II album. The session was produced by Phil Ramone, engineered by Dae Bennett, and assisted by Fernando Lodeiro and Tim Marchiafava.  Tony Bennett also sang and recoded a duet with Intergalactic Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin in the spacious Studio C, with its Neve VRP 72-input console, for the same project.  Both sessions were filmed.

Also in Studio A, Jean Morrison recorded for her upcoming album with help from Nile Rodgers and Vernon Reid.  Diego Paul produced the session and Hillary Johnson engineered, assisted by Charlie Kramsky.

Detroit-borne jazz great Kenny Garrett recorded some transcendent new songs (SonicScoop received a special preview – story to come) in Studio C with producer Donald Brown, engineer Todd Whitelock, and assistant  Fernando Lodeiro.

Studio B and the SSL 9000 J were on duty recording for an Evanescence project. Nick Raskulinecz produced, and engineer Paul Figueroa was assisted by Fernando Lodeiro.

Scarlett Johansson recorded vocals in Studio G through the SSL 4000G+ for a Dean Martin project. Producer/engineer Eric Rosse and assistant Charlie Kramsky were on point.

The Gaddabouts returned to Studio A to record with producers Steve Gadd and Edie Brickell. Engineer Andy Smith was assisted here by Bob Mallory.

Studio A and G were rocking with the bluesy jams of The Zak Smith Band, recorded in Studio A and G by producer Zak Smith, engineer Milan Sudzuk assisted by Aki Nishimura.

Saxophonist and composer Jane Ira Bloom was recording in Studio B with super-engineer Jim Anderson, assisted by Fernando Lodeiro.

Michael Maier and Freddie Cole tracked vocals in Studio W, in a session produced by Michael Maier with engineer Bryan Smith.

In the TV realm, music for the Discovery Channel’s show The Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero was recorded in Studio C with producer Robert Miller. Peter Hylenski engineered, assisted by Charlie Kramsky.

For the multimedia realm, James Sheldon, author of Before I Forget – Directing Television: 1948-1988, was in Studio E reading from his own book for an upcoming audio book.

Avatar Studios Hosts James McCartney, Travis Barker, Regis Philbin, Roberta Flack

The rooms at Avatar Studios have been crowded this past month, with projects for everyone from global artists to talk show royalty. Top producers and engineers have been in on many of the sessions as well.

Studio A, with its legendary 2,496 sq. ft. live room, accommodated a duet by Tony Bennett and Sheryl Crow, produced by Phil Ramone, engineered by Dae Bennett, and assisted by Fernando Lodeiro. Elvis Costello was also in A, recording a song for an upcoming film with engineer Kevin Killen, assisted by Fernando Lodeiro.

Staying in Studio A, James McCartney recorded in Studio A with producer David Kahne, engineer Roy Hendrickson assisted by Fernando Lodeiro. Mark Ronson recorded music there for Warner Pictures’ Arthur, with engineer Vaughan Merrick, and assisted by Bob Mallory. On the drumming tip, Travis Barker recorded drums for an ad with producer James Covill, engineer James Ingram, and assisted by Bob Mallory.

Roberta Flack recorded in Studio A as well as well as the SSL 9000J-equipped Studio B with co-producer Sherrod Barnes, engineer Roy Hendrickson, and assisted by Bob Mallory.

In Studio C with its Neve VRP 72, Constantine Maroulis recorded with producers Phil Galdston and Marc Copely — engineer Lawrence Manchester was on hand, assisted by Bob Mallory. In addition Rebecca Arons recorded with Regis Philbin in Studio C with engineer Anthony Ruotolo, assisted by Bob Mallory. Also in C, Steve Reich / So Percussion recorded with producer Judith Sherman, engineer John Kilgore, and assisted by Charlie Kramsky.

On the multimedia front, Cirque de Soleil recorded in Studio C with producer Phil Ramone and engineer Roy Hendrickson, assisted by Fernando Lodeiro. Music for HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” was recorded in Studio B with producers Stewart Lerman, Jim Dunbar, engineer Stewart Lerman, and assisted by Bob Mallory. Last but not least, music for Fox’s “Glee” was recorded in Studio G with producer Tommy Faragher and engineer Bryan Smith, assisted by Fernando Lodeiro.

Paul McCartney, Lou Reed, Bjork, Mark Ronson Recording at Avatar

We’ve got the latest on who’s been recording at NYC’s Avatar Studios most recently. Check it out:

In the legendary Studio A…Paul McCartney recorded a Buddy Holly tribute with producer David Kahne and engineer Roy Hendrickson, assisted by Fernando Lodeiro; Lou Reed recorded (and mixed) music for a TV commercial with producer Rob Mathes and engineer Elliot Scheiner, also assisted by Lodeiro;

Mark Ronson recorded music for Warner Brothers Pictures’ upcoming film Arthur, with engineer Vaughan Merrick, assisted by Bob Mallory; and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks continued recorded music for HBO’s Mildred Pierce with producer/engineer Stewart Lerman, assisted by Rick Kwan.

James Carter Organ Trio also recorded an upcoming release in Studio A with producer Michael Cuscuna and engineer Jim Anderson assisted by Aki Nishimura, and an upcoming release for Kendrick Scott’s “Oracle” was recorded with Scott and Derrick Hodge producing and Joe Barbaria engineering, assisted by Charlie Kramsky.

Stanley Jordan was at Avatar recording an upcoming release with a “who’s who” of top jazz musicians that included Mike Stern, Christian McBride, Charnett Moffett, Nicholas Payton, Bucky Pizzarelli, Charlie Hunter, Russell Malone, Regina Carter and Kenwood Dennard. Al Pryor produced the session with engineer Todd Whitelock.

Meanwhile in the large, Motown-inspired and Neve-equipped Studio C, recorded for an upcoming release with engineer Damian Taylor; Kelli O’Hara recorded an upcoming release with producer Dan Lipton and engineer Lawrence Manchester; Louis C.K. and engineer Robert Smith worked on music for Season 2 of the FX show, Louie.

In the SSL 4000 G+ equipped Studio G, Hal Willner produced a “Sea Shanties” project that featured vocals by Sean Lennon, Michael Stipe and Courtney Love, all recorded and mixed by engineers Martin Brumbach and Roy Hendrickson, and more vocals for Fox’s Glee were recorded and mixed with producer Tommy Faragher and engineer Bryan Smith.

Finally, in Studio B, Isabella Rossellini recorded a voice over for an upcoming environmental documentary Home with producer Eva Ferrero and engineer Neil Dorfsman; and Renee Fleming was in for a video shoot for a Sydney Opera House performance. The session was produced by Alex Coletti and engineered by Aki Nishimura.

Avatar Hosts Sessions For Every Media: Lenny Kravitz, The Dirty Pearls Records, Glee and Rubicon, Tyler Perry film and Vampire Weekend for iTunes

As reflected in a recent string of sessions, there’s a whole lotta music being recorded at Avatar Studios of late, with a diverse clientele of producers, writers and composers creating music for multiple medias.

First, the album projects — this last month saw Elaine Paige in Studio A with Phil Ramone and Frank Filipetti, Lenny Kravitz in Studio C with Tom Edmunds engineering, Ricky Martin in with producer Desmond Child and engineer Enrique Larreal and NYC rockers The Dirty Pearls recording with producer David Kahne and engineer Joe Barresi.

Additionally, Jim Hall recorded at Avatar with engineer James Farber, Keiko Matsui recorded with producer Richard Bona and engineer Anthony Ruotolo and the Harmonie Ensemble / New York recorded in Studio A with conductor/music director Steven Richman and engineer Adam Abeshouse.

A Celtic Woman project was recorded in Studio B while connected to a studio in Dublin through Source-Connect. David Downes produced the session with engineer Kevin Killen. Additionally, Avatar’s new writing room was booked out for a writing session for Justin Bieber with producer Priscilla Renae, working with engineer Fernando Lodeiro.

And then the film and television work…Music performed by Joshua Bell for Tyler Perry’s film For Colored Girls was recorded in Studio C with composer/producer Aaron Zigman and engineer Todd Whitelock. Music for Glee was recorded in Studio G with actor Darren Criss, producer Tommy Faragher and engineer Robert Smith. The score for AMC’s Rubicon was recorded in Studio C with producer Peter Nashel and engineer Roy Hendrickson; and an episode of CBS’ The Good Wife with Miranda Cosgrove was shot in Studio A.

Also in Avatar’s Studio A, Young People’s Chorus of New York City was in for a TV pre-record for the 9/11 Commemoration with producer Irwin Fisch and engineer Artie Friedman.

And web…Vampire Weekend recorded in Studio A for iTunes with producer Suzanne Varney and engineer Jason Marcucci. And, radio interviews via ISDN were held in Studio G with LCD Soundsystem assisted by Fernando Lodeiro.

Avatar’s also long been a home for Broadway musicians, and recently hosted recording sessions for promos for Elf The Musical, with producer Brandon Mikolaski and engineer Ed Rak, Jersey Boys, with engineer Peter Karam and Rock of Ages, with engineer Peter Hylenski.

And music for Loris Greaud’s project, “ The Snorks, A Concert for Creatures” was recently recorded in Studio A, performed by Antipop Consortium. Avatar’s Rick Kwan engineered the session.  The audio will be used for an installation at the Pace Art Gallery.

For more information on Avatar Studios, visit www.avatarstudios.net.

Rubicon Score, Alicia Keys, Jesse Harris & Punch Brothers Recorded At Avatar

AMC’s new series Rubicon features a brilliant, subtly-suspenseful original score by Peter Nashel of NYC music production company, Duotone. And the composer/producer has been recording said picture-perfect score at NYC’s Avatar Studios, with engineer Roy Hendrickson assisted by Aki Nishimura. Tune into Rubicon Sundays at 9PM!

Avatar has been booked by a variety of other artists, film and theater projects of late, including:

Alicia Keys recording with engineer Ann Mincieli, assisted by Rick Kwan; Ricky Martin recording in Studio G with producer Desmond Child and engineer Christian Baker; singer/songwriter Jesse Harris recording and mixing a self-produced project in Studio C with engineer Mark Plati, assisted by Fernando Lodeiro; and Punch Brothers recording a new project for Disney with producer Joel McNeeley and engineer Frank Filipetti.

Filipetti also recently engineered on sessions for producer Phil Ramone with singer/actress Elaine Paige in Avatar’s Studio G.

The cast album for Broadway’s La Cage Aux Folles starring Kelsey Grammer was recorded in Studio A and Studio G with producer (and PS Classics co-founder) Tommy Krasker and engineer Bart Migal assisted by Bob Mallory and David Rowland.

And the score for the upcoming film, The Beaver, was recorded in Studio A with composer / producer Marcelo Zarvos, director Jodie Foster, engineer Richard King assisted by Fernando Lodeiro and Charlie Kramsky.

For more information on Avatar Studios, visit http://www.avatarstudios.net/ and follow them on Twitter — where they are known to announce last-minute deals on studio time — @avatarstudios!

Avatar Studios Hosts Paul Simon, Moby, O.A.R. and More

Paul Simon recently spent time recording at NYC’s Avatar Studios, working with producer Phil Ramone, engineer Andy Smith and assistant engineer Justin Gerrish.

Moby‘s also recently recorded in Studio A, with engineer Scott Norton and assistant engineer Rick Kwan.

Meanwhile, roots rock quintet O.A.R. recorded in Studio C with producer Matt Wallace and engineer Mike Landolt. Other acts that recorded in March include Teddy Thompson, Proud Simon, and The Script.

From the jazz world, the Christian McBride Big Band recorded in Studio A with engineer Joe Ferla, while woodwind specialist James Carter recorded in Studio B with producer Michael Cuscuna and engineer Jim Anderson, assisted by Fernando Lodeiro. Other notables were Michel Portal and The Don Friedman Trio, both of whom recorded in Studio C with their producer/engineer teams.

Studio A recently hosted several TV and theater projects as well. Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks recorded music for the upcoming HBO series Boardwalk Empire with producer Jim Dunbar and engineer Stewart Lerman. Also, the cast of Broadway’s Million Dollar Quartet recorded with producer Hank Neuberger and engineer Chris Steinmetz.

And finally, the music for Life Begins At 8:40, a 1934 Harold Arlen / Ira Gershwin / Yip Harburg musical revue, was recorded in Studio A with producer Tommy Krasker and engineer Bart Migal.

For more information on Avatar Studios, visit their website at avatarstudios.net.